The murder of a 36-year-old Roanoke Rapids man early Friday morning occurred at a suspected trap house where a party celebrating the birthday of the late Corey “Biscuit” Graham that had originated at a Roanoke Rapids restaurant Thursday night continued at the shooting scene on Carico Lumber Road, sources confirmed.

A trap house is a house where buying and selling occurs and one in which drug dealers will buy or rent to divert attention away from their own homes.

Lieutenant Bobby Martin of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office said investigators are trying to determine who the house at 209 Carico Road off Highway 48 belonged to.

While he would not comment specifically on the 209 Carico Road address, Lieutenant Scott Hall of the sheriff's office said there have been several complaints of drug sales in the community where the house is located.

Various sources confirmed the gathering at the house was a continuation of a party that began at Applebee's to celebrate the August 18, 1997, birthday of Graham, who was killed in March of 2009 when he was shot, allegedly by Tavarus “Tater” Ivey, in the parking lot of the Interstate BP on Julian R. Allsbrook Highway.

By all reports, there was no trouble at Applebee's, although there were references made to a Highway 48 gang.

Many of the Applebee's patrons went out to Carico Road for the continuation of the party.

Around 3:45 a.m. Friday, deputies were dispatched to Carico Road on a shooting call.

Deputies, according to Major Bruce Temple, found Tony Devon Hawkins was fatally shot in the throat and a 14-year-old boy grazed by a bullet in the upper torso, resulting in minor injuries. Two mobile homes and at least one car were hit by shrapnel from a high powered rifle.

Deputies learned that during a party men began to argue over unknown issues. The altercation involved 23-year-old Elvin Maurice Alston of Roanoke Rapids and others.

Alston left with 19-year-old Travis Jackson, also of Roanoke Rapids, and the two returned later with Jackson driving and Alston allegedly armed with a rifle.

The weapon was fired from the car.

Alston and Jackson have been charged with murder and further charges are pending.

They were jailed without the opportunity for bond and are scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

Temple said the case remains under investigation.